Drum Sets

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There are two types of drum sets- acoustic and electronic. Within these two categories are instruments of tremendous variety. What you choose will depend on your musical tastes, your needs, and your budget.

Acoustic Drum Sets

Acoustic drum sets, also called drum kits, are what we typically think of when we think of the drums. They usually include a snare drum, cymbals, bass drum, and toms. Latin drum sets include all those pieces plus some hand drums and other accessories to hit with the drum stick such as cow bells. The sound is generated by the drum itself after the percussionist hits it with the sticks.

These types of drum sets form the back bone of most western music. When you listen to the radio, a good majority of the songs you here (unless it is classical) gets their percussive, rhythmic feel from the drum set. Though drummers tend to blend into the background of a band, their skill is necessary to hold the song together. The other musicians rely on the patterns created by the drummer. If the drummer misses a beat, it has the potential of causing the other musicians to lose their place.

Electronic Drum Sets

You can purchase electronic drum sets that are set up the same way as acoustic drum sets. With these types of drum sets, however, the sound is generated electronically instead of within the drum. When the drummer hits the electronic drum with the stick, the sound is processed electronically, which generates the sound. You can also buy electronic drum sets that resemble a pad. In this case, you can hit at the drum with your hand or a stick and the drum sound is generated and processed within the device.

So, there are two types of drum sets- acoustic and electronic. Your tastes, needs and budget will determine which one you should purchase. It's also perfectly fine to purchase one of each.

Steven Chen - Crimson (Inslowmotion boom cover)

My drum cover of Inslowmotion's yet to be released song "Crimson." I have been playing drumset for about a year and two months in this video. Cobus Potgieter (the drummer of Inslowmotion) was super generous and gave me a drumless version of this song to cover. The text in the beginning of the video is from an email I got from him after asking him if I could cover his band's song, Crimson. I doubt this will come anywhere near as awesome as his original drumming, but regardless this song is still beautiful and great. The part I play is kind of like what Cobus plays except with a few little things here and there I added by improvisation. I think it turned out pretty well ;). I didn't quite realize how empty it sounds without an original drum track in the background, and I'm pretty sure I forgot to add reverb. On top of that, this wasn't my best mix, sorry... I'll remember to compensate for that next time I do something like this. For now just turn your volume up, it'll sound better I promise ._. Also in case anyone was wondering, this song is where I got my band's name from :P Thanks again Cobus! Please comment, rate, and subscribe!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac7VKRbHg58&hl=en

Steve Smith Sonor 30th Anniversary Tour

A recap of legendary drummer Steve Smith's clinic tour commemorating 30 years with Sonor drums and promoting the Sonor Steve Smith 30th Anniversary drumset.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNPA6RsWyPk&hl=en

How to angle up a Roland KD-8 to the Ion Drum Rocker (with Kickbox)

DEAthMetAL50 asked me today to make this video, and so have many other people, so here it is, finally! This is an instructional video on how to connect a Roland KD-8 kick trigger pad to the Ion Drum Rocker for use in Rock Band, using a Kickbox. rolandus.com www.drumrocker.com www.rockbandkickbox.com The Kickbox is necessary for this setup because the KD-8 does not send out the correct signal for the Ion controller to recognize as a kick drum hit for the game (it needs an ON/OFF signal). So the Kickbox translates the piezo signal from the KD-8 into an ON/OFF signal that the Ion controller will recognize. The same identical setup DOES work with the Rock Band 1 and 2 stock drum sets as well, you just have to use the 1/8"-1/8" cable that I showed in the video instead of 1/8"-1/4". My pedal is a Yamaha Flying Dragon DFP-8210 double pedal, I just didn't have the slave pedal connected while filming this video.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gejoihBENag&hl=en

Bang on Your Drum All Day Long - Without Annoying Your Neighbors!

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Bang! Bam! Bang! Have you always wanted to play the drums, but are afraid your neighbors would call the police on you?

Do you want to bang on your drum all day, but are worried you'll drive you loved ones away. Don't worry; your dreams of becoming the next great drummer can still come true! There are quick and easy ways to help keep your family, friends, and neighbors happy while still allowing you to drum it up. So, grab your sticks and take some notes because it's just about drum time!

Communicate

The key to any successful relationship is communication and this is no less true when you're talking about your drums. Think for a moment about who might be affected by your choice to drum? Typically, housemates and neighbors top the list.

Before you start banging on those drums all day, consider having a chat with these folks and see if you can work out a way for everybody to happily coexist in Drumworld. See if there are better and worse times for you to drum. If you think it might help (and you're willing), invite the person for a drum lesson. Once a person gets the beat into their own hands, you'd be amazed at how quickly a dissenter becomes a fan!

Go electronic

If you live in a small space and have sound-sensitive neighbors, a drum machine or electronic kit might be best for you. With the ability to moderate the volume, you're sure to keep your neighbors happier than if you were drumming it out on a full set. When you go electric, you enter a whole new world of drumming; a world where the beat can all be in your head...headphones, that is!

Create a quiet room

The professionals who have unlimited cash supplies create fancy soundproof rooms complete with high-tech acoustic materials on the walls, floors, and ceiling. But, do you know what? You can create your own "quiet" room with a little ingenuity and a bit of elbow grease. Of course, yours won't necessarily be the height of elegance and hipness, but it'll do the trick.

Did you know that carpet scraps provide an excellent soundproofing medium? Visit your local carpet seller and grab as many free scraps as possible. Then, layer these on the wall of your music "studio" (e.g., your garage). Be sure to focus on the walls and ceiling as these will be where most of your sound escapes and resonates. The more layers, the better!

Invest in cymbal mutes and drum practice discs

If you're not quite ready to go full shag carpet on your walls and ceilings, consider investing in cymbal mutes and practice discs for your drums. Becoming more and more popular, these drumming accessories make a world of difference in the sound department. By significantly reducing the amount of sound your drum set sends out, you might find that your neighbors and housemates don't even know you have a drum!

Go ahead, bang on that drum all day-just make it quiet to keep your friends and family happy! No matter how you do it, quieting your drums can not only save your relationships and your standing with your neighbors, but can also help you to appreciate the sound that your kit makes when it's not muted.

Liquid Tension Experiment - Paradigm Shift (Drummania Extreme Drums - S Ranking)

More info in a bit. This is a shortened version of the song, I know: it takes out the slow, relaxed part of the song. LTE's one of my favorite bands: LTE is to Dream Theater as Strapping Young Lad is to The Devin Townsend Band, essentially they're both more intense, more technically complex versions of their more known counterparts (Devin just released a new album btw, everyone needs to check it out: he's got three more coming soon too). My stick goes in front of the camera, but if you think about it logically for a minute, there's literally nowhere else I could place the camera and still get a nearly flat view of the screen. Fraps, Camstudio, Camtasia, Playclaw, and every other screen recording program causes DTXMania to lag heavily, that's why I don't use them. DTXMania eats up a ton of processor speed, so using anything else while i'm playing it drops the FPS down to around 5. I didn't do double bass because I don't have a second pedal: once I get one, i'll do double bass charts. If you want to see me doing double bass, check out my Emerald Sword and Black Diamond videos. Thedrumset i'm using is a "GoodWoods" set, a sturdy, quiet, responsive set with great rebound: you can get it at www.goodwoodmods.com I'm using the "Destroyer Pedal" in this video, which is great for zero double-hits, it's metal, and it's great for using heel-toe with. You can get it at www.rockbandpedal.net Also check out www.rockbandparts.com - The best product, best warranty, best prices. PERIOD ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCXK-dVMSsg&hl=en

Electronic Drum Sets and Their Many Benefits

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If you are planning on learning to play the drums and you don't want to upset the neighbors you may want to consider investing in an electric drum set. With most electric drum sets you can now listen to the output through headphones so that you can practice any time without bothering the neighbors next door or the rest of the family in the next room. This is just one of the advantages of going with electronic drums.

Newer, more advanced electric drum kits emulate the sound of traditional kits with great accuracy and including sensitivity to the way you strike the drum and the pressure that is applied. This used to only be possible with very high end models until recently.  In recent years, bigger companies have begun to design and produce mid-range electronic kits with many of the 'high-end' features and this is changing the electric drum set market.

Electronic drum kits are appealing for many reasons. Besides the helpful noise reduction during practice they also take up much less space than a traditional drum set does.  So, if you have limited space to set up a drum set, such as in a bedroom or side room, an electric kit could be just the ticket. An added advantage is the ease with which electric drum sets can be packed up and transported. You won't need a truck or a van to move them.  They can easily fit into a normal car.  Most sets are constructed of lightweight metal that is extremely durable and can tolerate the beating of even the most aggressive drummer.

Like acoustic drum sets, you can choose the features that you are likely to need from your electric kit and how you are going to use them.  Much like acoustics, include toms, cymbals, a snare and a hi-hat. There is added feature of being able to adjust the sound to create different musical effects and different sounding drum sets to fit the music you intend to play. As with most instruments there is a wide range in pricing of various drum kits. There is a good selection of electric kits on the market, from beginner level set-ups, to studio quality sets. Unlike some new technologies, this is one area that most parents are happy to embrace as they can satisfy the needs of their drumming enthusiast children without having to build a sound proof room or wear ear plugs every day during practice time.

Picking Perfect Drum Sets For Kids

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The research seems to point out that when we are children most of us are simply better learners. Some of us keep those abilities in practice throughout our lives, but for many learning is something that is best begun at a young age. Working with that fact and indulging the interests of children are made easier when the necessary equipment is remade into appropriate forms for children. That very thing is what you will find in drum sets for kids.

Many of the drum sets for kids have all of the component pieces that you will see in adult drum sets. The sound is a bit different since the size of the drum determines that, but the pieces are all there. They are proportional and in basically the same placement as well. Possibly more than anything what these sets do is allow the kids to become familiar with the principles of a drum set. They can begin to get a feel as they investigate the set on their own. Similarly they are able to begin completing formal lessons on the set.

There are more options available today than ever before though. These options include electronic pads. For some this may be a better option. While there are some electronic adult sets that are being made to resemble the acoustic sets there is a decided difference between playing an acoustic drum set and many of the electric ones. Considering this if the child has a preference for electronic instruments or music they may be better served learning to play on electronic pads than on acoustic drum sets for kids. Many sets designed for kids are less expensive. This is in part due to the reduced amount of material used. You may find that these lower prices allow you to purchase both an acoustic and an electronic set for the child. This can allow them to develop their skills on both varieties early on.

For many though this is a musical interest that will remain distinctly personal if it does last throughout their life. Most drummers never have the intention or inclination to climb on stage with their drums and perform for others. For those that do drum sets for kids may be just the thing to give them a head start toward that goal. For those with such paths in mind considering the appearance of the set is important. Some drum sets for kids are brightly colored in the blue and pinks associated with boys and girls; others are adorned with large pictures of characters and other fascinations of youth. There are a number that have the styling of adult sets that are made for the stage.

There are some sets available that have fewer pieces in them. These sets can allow for a less frustrating beginning with a specialized combination that is used in some types of music. Similarly traditional five piece sets can be customized by removing or adding pieces when the design allows. Using this and other techniques the child can customize the drum set and the sound that they want. Comfort is a key to uncompromised performance. A drum set that is designed for someone of their size can help to supply just that level of comfort that they want.

How to Protect Your Cymbals

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The traditional drum sets or kits are not worthy without the cymbals. These are created of thin metal and are able to vibrate when hit with a stick. It vibrates a musical effect. But there are other type and shape of cymbals practiced by the drummer. Each type of cymbal is built with the strength, as required to produce the right kind of sound vibration. If it is not correctly played or even wrongly struck then it may get damaged.

The danger is when you take it out of the stands. The sharpness can get spoiled and a small scratch may result in a big crack. Thus it has to be safely put back in their bags or hard shell. Be particular to put some dividing material in between them and set the packing carefully so that the smaller ones fit into the wide ones.

As a matter of fact the drummer gives more attention to the drums than to its cymbal. It is aesthetically formed to look good and to produce quality sound. Negligence will spoil the entire sound effect. Cleaning of the cymbals keeps its glaze and thereby the looks and polishing off the unwanted finger print upon it is necessary. Always use a cleaner to clean the cymbals. As you experience the Zildjian ride cymbals are an improvised and hammered cymbal which holds a unique look and the sound vibrations. They also assure the starters to give the same result of sound as they provide to the professionals. The Zildjian is identified name for all the drummers to select their Cymbals. The cost is reasonable.

The other alternative is to take care of your cymbals with the cympad. It helps in retaining the perfect sound. It is usually foam which is used to protect your cymbals from scathe. Foam is replacing the felts. Soon it can be bought in six varied sizes and it is best for all the drummers to apply them for the safety of their cymbals. Cymbals are basically are very delicate in their formation. With the assistance of this foam you may not need to practice, to tape the package as it protects from the environmental hitting possibility. These foams are available according to the shape and size of the cymbals.

Today possibly many professionals depend on this cympad to protect the cymbals from having damaged. It is therefore imperative to take care of the cymbals as you take care of your drums. Do you know that without cymbals your drum set and kits will be of no use? Cracked cymbals at times can be a built in defect but it is very rare. At the end of the article, we all realize that the drummers during the show forget the resistant power of the cymbals and hit them ruthlessly, to get the ideal vibration and sound, which is not discipline. The cymbals are what they are and they behave accordingly.

Children's Drum Sets

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Drum sets are an essential part of any modern orchestra or music band. Drum sets are also called as drum kits and usually contain percussion components such as drums, cymbals and other drumming instruments required for contemporary music such as jazz and rock. Drum sets were originally developed in the United States and were known as trap kits at that point of time. Drum sets are popular amongst all age groups and most children love to hear the booming sound of a drum. There are various drum sets available nowadays that are especially designed for children.

Children's drum sets are quite different from the normal drum sets available for adults. They generally come as a 3-piece set for children who are in the age group of 5-9 years. These include a bass drum, a snare drum and a tom-tom along with a cymbal and its holder, snare stand, drumsticks and drum pedal. Children drum sets are typically available in colors such as white, red, and black.

Children's drum sets are often used during ceremonial rights, marching bands and symphonies. These drum sets have all the features and amenities suitable for children. They come with stools that can be adjusted from 13 to 17 inches according to the height of the children using them. Nowadays, children drum sets are available in a variety of styles, designs and shapes. There are certain traditional popular drum sets such as big band drum sets, which are designed for children in contemporary styles and designs. They are scaled down in different child sizes in order to give them an authentic look, but will be comfortable for children to play.

Children's drum sets are made with attention to minute details such as fixtures, fittings and finishes so that they are safe for kids. These sets mostly come with chrome steel fittings and high gloss paint finishes in bright colors in order to increase their durability and to make them look attractive.

Mumford & Sons - Dustbowl Dance Live [Multi Camera + Pro Sound]

Mumford & Sons playing the final song of their set, Dustbowl Dance, during a support slot on the Maccabees headline tour last May. Shot on crappy Sony HD cameras on a shoe-string budget, this was for a student project but I think it turned out ok. Enjoy. Camermen: Ana Yamel Rodriguez Cuervo, Ryan Geddis, Stephanie Robinson, Jean-Philippe Blunt, Alexander James Powell



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hBkeX3k48M&hl=en

What Piano Players Should Know About Percussion Instruments

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Percussion instruments include the snare drum (and all drums in general), cymbals, tympanis (sometimes called kettle drums as they are shaped as such), and exotic instruments such as the guiro, claves, and maracas. These instruments, and the way they are played, go a long way in determining the feel and style of the music. Where a rock band might have a set of drums (snare drum, bass drum, cymbals), Latin musicians used a number of different instruments to create music.

Though most don't think of it in this way, the piano is a percussion instrument. The tones are made by hammers striking strings, causing them to vibrate. Seeing the inner workings of a piano, and how forcefully the hammers hit the strings, shows why it is considered a percussion instrument.

Music written for a percussionist is quite different than for the pianist. Percussion notation is divided into two types: pitched and non-pitched, the difference being the instruments used. For example, drums (which can be tuned) and cymbals (which cannot).

The notation for pitched percussion is similar to piano music in that notes are placed on the various places on a staff. And similar symbols are used to show volume and attack.

The notation for non-pitched percussion instruments is less formal. A clef with two vertical lines is often used and it appears on a five-line staff similar to piano music. But some percussionist use their own way of noting which instrument is played and when.

Drum tablature (drum tab), used for a drum set (bass drum, snare, hi hat, cymbals, toms) uses the following symbols: CC: Crash Cymbal, HH: Hi-Hat, Rd: Ride-Cymbal, SN: Snare-drum, LT: Low-Tom, HT: High-Tom, FT: Floor-Tom, B: Bass-Drum, Hf: Hi-Hat-w/foot. This tablature can become quite complex as four or more instruments are often played at the same time.

Outside of orchestral and band music, most percussionists do not use any kind of tablature or notation. What they play is entirely up to them and at their discretion (and drawing entirely on their own techniques). However, most strive to create a style and sound that works well with the music, and the musicians they are playing with. And there are definite rules as to when certain percussion instruments are used. A rock drummer may play with a lot of force and intensity, where a jazz drummer plays with more touch and finesse. The best percussionists (drummers) can play a wide variety of music and styles.

For the pianist to play effectively with a percussionist, they have to be able to break down each measure into quarter note (beats), eighth notes, sixteenth notes, even thirty-second beats to be able to communicate with the percussionist. The pianist also needs to understand how and when different percussion instruments are used and for what style of music.

The biggest challenge, of course, is for the pianist to play accurately and precisely. Some pianists may have never worked with a percussionist and may not be capable of playing with the precision required. That being said, working with a percussionist can be a great training tool.

East West Quantum Leap Ministry of Rock Review

floridamusicco.com East West Quantum Leap Ministry of Rock Quantum Leap Ministry of Rock is a HUGE collection of Rock Drums, Basses and Guitars recorded in the famous EASTWEST Studio 2. Quantum Leap Ministry of Rock is a modern day rock toolkit that covers a myriad of styles. Songwriters, film, TV and game composers as well as drummers and guitarists will love this library. Sound quality is superior to anything else available. Quantum Leap Ministry of Rock features sounds used in todays music and the entire library was created with one goal in mind: to create a virtual instrument capable of producing sounds that could actually produce a hit record or filmscore without any live drum, bass or guitar overdubs. Articulations and programming was all reverse engineered from actual performances. Features: -Produced by QUANTUM LEAP producer NICK PHOENIX -Approximately 18 gigabytes of rock drums, basses and guitars recorded in EASTWEST STUDIO 2 -Legato Bass and Guitar Samples -Legato and Staccato Repetitions -Truly playable rhythm guitars and leads, clean and distorted -Release samples -Guitars and basses recorded in dual amp configurations and software allows user to choose amp, or mix the sound from both amps, -Dynamic bass that can play everything from ballads to the most hardcore music imaginable -Round robin bass drums, snares, toms and hats. performance drum hits extracted from live playing -The world famous studio 2 rock drum sound featured on countless gold records ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUt5d-C-jtE&hl=en

Enhancing Creativity in Your Child

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A child's mind is like a blossoming flower, they need the proper nutrients to grow and reach their full potential. Flowers need sunlight, soil, and water and a child's mind needs mental stimulation to help improve their motor skills, problem solving, and identifying colors and shapes. Many children who are exposed to these types of activities at an early age will adapt and identify to more difficult and complicated educational learning tools later in life. Creativity in a child is very important because it will allow them to become more creative as they grow older, which can lead to creative job positions.

One way to enhance the creativity in your child and jump start their brain is by finding the right educational toys. Toys such as dolls and action figures are great no question about that, but toys that are fun to play with and serve an educational purpose is double the bang for the buck. A basic yet very functional toy for children, especially boys, are building blocks. Building blocks will aid child to use their imagination and build whatever their heart desires. Building blocks can be used for children of any age, and as they grow older the structures and toys can become more complicated and create more detailed structures.

Art is a fantastic way to bring a child's mind to life. A erasable chalk board with markers can entertain a child for hours. A child can learn the variety of colors through drawing and painting by learning what colors go with what types of objects, such as blue skies, yellow suns, green trees, red apples and so on. Also by creating drawings and paintings, children can show off what they have learned in a fun, satisfying way to their parents and teachers. If children continue to paint and draw over time, you will be able to see their educational progress by how increasingly more complicated their drawings and paintings do become.

Sounds and music also play a very critical role in enhancing a child's creative potential. Pianos, guitars, drum sets, are excellent ways for child to create notes, beats, rhythms, and other musical sounds. These types of musical toys will allow children to sing songs, and even maybe build confidence by performing in front of others.

It may be also beneficial to understand what type of activities and toys a child enjoys most. If they enjoy painting and drawing look for those tools, if they enjoy building and working with their hands look for toys that are construction related. Children will often lean towards one toy or another.

Enhancing the creativity in a child's life will not only be rewarding to them but also to those help a child reach their creativity. We live in a age where the amount of educational toys seem to be endless so it is important to take advantage of what is available. While parents want what is best for their children or child, it is also important to let children decide what they enjoy playing with. Showing and making children aware of the educational toys will only improve their lives for the better.

Jazz Electro Songs - A Brief Overview of Electro Songs

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Electro songs are a music genre dating to the early 1980s. They are strongly influenced by an electronic drum beat that is programmable. Although the original use for the machine didn't sound much like a real drum set, the sound produced by the electronic device soon was incorporated into a totally different sound. This was called electro funk, electro dance or sometimes electro boogie. Most music for this style was based in New York and in Detroit.

This style of music is also related to funk songs. Funk originated in the late 1960s as a form of African American music. The mix of R&B, soul music, and soul jazz relied mostly on a single chord rather than chord progressions. Funk music brought the rhythmic and complex baseline to electro. Funk music lent its character to disco, hip hop and house music.

The electro music style features the complex drum rhythms, but it also has vocals. They tend to be flat, mechanical, almost robotic. The vocals may even be delivered through an vocoder or other electronic distortion. Originally, the rap style of articulation was used, but that became less popular in the 1990s.

Many artists have contributed bits and pieces to the overall electro style. Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis all shaped the raw electronic sounds in the style to a more defined genre. The style has seen three major waves. During the early 1980s, the initial push came out of the funk genre. The 1990s saw a resurgence that was more deliberate. In 2009, a third wave has been firmed up.

Some of the best known artists in electro include Planet Patrol, Afrika Bambaataa, Dopplereffekt and Cybotron. Many of the original artists, groups and producers fell into the trap of one genre only. When the dip in popularity occurred, the artists largely disappeared from view.

The resurgence in popularity in the last decade included work from artists such as Anthony Rother. Much of the interest has been in Europe and the state of Florida. There are clubs devoted to the electro style. Jackal & Hyde, Dynamix II and others keep the style in the forefront of electrocore music.

Electro songs continue to be produced by some of the original producers and played by DJs, such as Dave Clarke. Labels dedicated to the sound continue to sell examples of the genre. Electro has been a major influence in Miami bass, funk carioca and crunk styles.

Drum Solo Wilbur Sargunaraj

www.wilbur.asia Drum Solo by Tamil Nadu Sensation Wilbur Sargunaraj. Performing on the TV Show in North America.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvW6WJre_ac&hl=en